{"id":546,"date":"2023-01-11T12:21:16","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T12:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/?p=546"},"modified":"2023-03-28T09:25:19","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T09:25:19","slug":"remarkable-women-2022-winner-still-making-power-moves-in-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/2023\/01\/11\/remarkable-women-2022-winner-still-making-power-moves-in-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cREMARKABLE WOMEN 2022\u201d WINNER STILL MAKING POWER MOVES IN 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ray Robinson<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Christmas Eve 2022 will forever stand\u00a0 as one of the coldest days in Ohio\u2019s meteorological history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On that day at 9250 Miles Park Avenue, in the city\u2019s Union-Miles neighborhood, history of another sort was being made. In the face of -24 degree temperatures, community \u2018Love Bug\u201d, Barbara Bradford Williams, opened her heart and her doors to several hundred eager individuals who came to the grand, grand opening of \u201cJB\u2019s Lunch & Literacy Program\u201d. Once inside, they were astonished by what they found.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Much to their surprise, they discovered a treasure trove of free toys, clothes, book bags, books, coloring books, markers, crayons, coats, gloves, hats and a bunch of other sparkling, bright goodies designed to make kids smile. Their mothers were happy as peach pie too as they received boatloads of free personal protective equipment (PPE) .\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They also learned about a dynamic program that\u2019s to be housed in the old historic library. The library itself could spark up hours of conversations because it has so much character. Huge floor-to-ceiling wooden columns appear to reach into the heavens making the massive structure seem even more majestic. A gigantic circular circulation desk leaps out to greet you as you enter the room. It too can spark up old merry memories of old library visits from days gone by.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

JB\u2019s Lunch & Literacy Program is the quintessential after school program that offers \u201creal life\u201d job readiness classes for students aged 6-17 years old. There is a wholesome smorgasbord of specialized courses aimed at jumpstarting the youngest of minds into entrepreneur mode quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

This spectacular space is a one-of-a-kind community enrichment center and its philosophy will surely be duplicated both locally and nationwide. The colorful menu of specialized classes includes skills in the areas of music production, journalism, television production, makeup application, hair braiding, barbering, DJing , podcast production, financial literacy, cooking classes and the list continues to grow weekly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all about building a good, solid foundation at our educational complex to give our young minds that necessary edge that it takes to make it in today\u2019s tech-driven society\u201d, Bradford-Williams states. \u201cWe give them real world experience that they can use the very minute that they walk out of our doors. Many of our business classes require that they first learn to write a business plan before they actually delve into creating their own companies and products. We are preparing the next generation of world and community leaders in this space”, she adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The staff and volunteers are some of the area\u2019s top achieving entrepreneurs, movers and shakers, who know their way around the business world and are known for getting the job done.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are former and current teachers on the team, as well as professionals from many of the social service organizations in town. Radio announcers, African-American farmers, videographers, photographers and college recruiters help to round out this gang of mega- successful change agents.<\/span><\/p>\n

JB\u2019s Lunch & Literacy Program, with the assistance of the federal government, assists families that are living at or below the regulated poverty guideline and have children who want to attend classes. Qualifying families will receive a $500 voucher for each quilifed child.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bradford-Williams and her staff have thought of everything. The complex also houses an area that aids the senior population with a myriad of problems and concerns that they are faced with on a daily basis with no immediate help in sight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tammy Kennedy, a well-known community problem solver and activist, brings a ton of powerful knowledge to the mix. She heads up several programs for the senior population.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adult and senior programs\u00a0 include a plethora of activities ranging from arts and crafts, B-I-N-G-O,\u00a0 a\u201d Sistah Circle\u201d for women’s self development, chair exercises and a Father\u2019s Initiative Workshop that deals with male mental health care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Several field trips are planned including a Black History weekend hop to New York for the Hapifilms Black Excellence from\u00a0 February 3rd to the 5th. Also on the agenda is a trip to the Cincinnati Black Entertainment Walk of Fame ceremony. An annual \u201cJuneteenth Block Party’, that will be free to the public, ‘ is also in the works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Participating Medicaid members will have access to a Virtual Mentor. A village of community partners will offer free social services ranging from- credit repair to the process of buying a home, learning to deal with stress, college and job preparedness, starting a business, improving your health and wellness and more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The village of resources and services opened on Monday, January 9, 2023. To become a senior member please contact Tammy Kennedy at 216.217.1604. If you have an idea or program and want us to consider it,\u00a0 email Ms Kennedy at Gcdccustomerinfo@gmail.com.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kennedy is also the CEO of\u00a0 The Greater Cleveland Distribution Collective. (GCDC) is a hygiene and sanitation supplies distribution company that began in April 2021 as an outreach project to fight Covid-19 and provide testing during the pandemic. The purpose is to provide free hygiene and sanitation supplies to underserved communities in Northeast Ohio and beyond. Ms Kennedy is currently writing a book \u201cCleaner Than The Board of Health\u201d a self help guide to community organizing and empowering communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to not only change this community, we\u2019re looking to design a better nation and a better road for our children to travel upon. We\u2019re here to encourage those who may need a little push to get going \u201c, Bradford-Williams offered. \u201c We often hear the term\u201d no child left behind\u201d. Baby, we\u2019re not leaving anyone behind. We all deserve to live the very best life possible. And a lot of that begins right here at JB\u2019s Lunch and Literacy Program \u201c.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bradford-Williams is the CEO of JB\u2019s Grille, a very popular family soul food restaurant located a short distance from the learning academy. She also operates several transportation companies and has a very successful daycare business as well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of her highest points came earlier in 2022 when she was crowned the winner of Nexstar Media\u2019s\u201d\u00a0 The Remarkable Women of 2022\u201d. Throughout Women\u2019s History Month, FOX 8 News highlighted women across the country who were making a difference as part of a nationwide Nexstar Media initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n

After winning the state title for being so remarkable in community activism, Bradford-Williams went on to be the cream of the crop nationally and now stands in the history books of time as being a very \u201cremarkable woman\u201d. And, she continues to prove that fact day in and day out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A few days after the amazing opening for JB\u2019s Lunch & Literacy, she was back in action saving another community. This time she played the role of Santa at her Slavic Village JB\u2019s Lunch & Literacy location.<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, families in dire need of assistance were able to wipe away their financial woes, if only for a moment. \u201c I refuse to just stand by and do nothing. I\u2019ve been blessed tremendously and it is up to me to bless tremendously. This building is a haven for hope and help. Within these walls we will design a better future for our youth and our community as a whole. There is light at the end of the tunnel\u201d, she chuckles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More clothes, toys and joy were spread around to the delight of all who showed up. At this location Bradford-Williams has a kids Zumba program that focuses on good healthy and exercise. They have also taken Jr. chef classes, learned to perform CPR, and practiced their DJing skills among other fun things here. The kids get a free healthy snack and help with their homework.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information about this illustrious program, Contact Barbara-Bradford-Williams at (216) 355-7140.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ray Robinson Christmas Eve 2022 will forever stand\u00a0 as one of the coldest days in Ohio\u2019s meteorological history.\u00a0 On that day at 9250 Miles Park Avenue, in the city\u2019s Union-Miles neighborhood, history of another sort was being made. In the face of -24 degree temperatures, community \u2018Love Bug\u201d, Barbara Bradford Williams, opened her heart … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “\u201cREMARKABLE WOMEN 2022\u201d WINNER STILL MAKING POWER MOVES IN 2023”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=546"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":718,"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/546\/revisions\/718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/neighborhoodmedia.org\/metrourbannews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}